Screen



Nov."2 5, 1941. R. E. MASON SCREEN Filed March 4, 1940 A H\-IVENTOR.file/midi? M05012 ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 25,1941

UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE Richard E'. 11:2 York, N. Y. ApplicationMarch 4, l)\lo. 322,127

7 Claims.

This invention relates to screens and similar devices used in windows,ventilating systems, and other places where effective sealing andconvenience of installation and removal are important. The principalobject of the invention is to produce a unitary screen of sufficientinherent flexibility and compressibility so that it can be readilyinstalled or'removed, and while in place will effectively seal anycracks around the edges, so that the screen may function with maximumeffectiveness. Other objects are to make a screen which will not warp orcorrode, and one which will adapt itself to the variations ordinarilyfound in window casings. Window casings are usually made of wood, whichswells and shrinks with the weather. It sometimes happens that screensarefitted correctly when first installed, but later become so tight thatthey cannot be removed, due

to theswelling or shrinking of the wood. The

present invention overcomes that difllculty. Various other objects willbecome apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring now to the drawing, which illustrates by way of example threeforms of the screen,

Fig. 1 shows a screen with flexible cushions at the ends or sides.

Fig. 2 is a modified form with the cushions or flexible material on allfour sides, that is, the top and bottom as well as the sides.

Fig. 3 illustrates a somewhat different form, with more reenforcement atthe screen border and narrower cushioning at the edge, giving the tipgreater flexibility.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the variousviews.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the screen I of any suitable wire mesh ismounted in a frame 2, of wood, plastic, metal, or other suitablematerial, preferably having a slight flexibility. Attached -to thescreen frame 2 at its two sides are wings or cushions 3 and 3 of soft,flexible, resilient material, of sufiicient depth and body so that itrubber or rubber substitutes.

can readily be compressed a half inch or more on each side and stillhave sufficient resiliency to spring back again with considerable forceand rigidity. This body of resilient material permits the screen to beinstalled in the grooves of a window casing or other frame by merelypushing it in place by hand, the resilient material 3 yielding enough topass over the edge of the groove and then expanding into the groove soas to fit snugly in place. The material 3 has suflicient body to holdfirmly enough against ordinary forces, such as wind; and yet when itbecomes necessary to remove the screen, it can be pushed flexibility ofthe cushions, particularly when they ions 3" at the sides.

astrong g'rip'on the screen frame 2, while the .window or other casingare made thinner, so as cellent materials for the cushions 3. In some'cases it may be desirable to provide one or more holes 4-4, of anydesired shape, to increase the are made of the tougher or less spongygrades of One of the difficulties with removable screens is that manywindow casings are not true and square, and that the bottom of the sashmay not be parallel with the bottom of the window cas-' ing, or may haveirregular defects. The modification shown in Fig. 2 is preferable insuch instances.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the screen mesh I has its frame 2 surrounded onall four sides with cushion material 3' and 3", such as sponge rubber,soft rubber, rubber substitutes, or equivalent material. The cushions 3'at the top and bottom need not be as deep as the wings or cush- The topand bottom cushions 3' take care of irregularities in the sash andwindow casing, effectively sealing them, while the side cushions 3"which seal the remainder also have the function as previously describedof bending and compressing when. the screen is inserted or removed fromthe window frame, to facilitate installation and to'hold the screen inplace. The end cushions 3"- are therefore of greater depth than thecushions .3" on the bottom and top.

Fig. 3 illustrates a modified form particularly suited to certain gradesof rubber or, cushion materials. In this modification the screen I andframe 2 have cushions for the purposes above described, but the materialof the cushions 3' is thickened or reenforced at 5 so as to provideedges 8 which are designed to extend in the to provide adequateflexibility even when fairly solid grades of rubber or equivalentmaterial are used.

Any of the forms may have cushionsall around as in Fig. 2, or addedholes or openings such as 4 to increase flexibility, the forms shownbeing merely illustrative'examples. The invention is characterized bythe form of cushioning described which permits easy installation orremoval from any ordinary frame, wlthout tools or excessive effort, evenwhen the frame has warped or swelled; eifectively seals irregularities,and permits non-telescoping or unitary screens of stock sizes to fitwindow openings of various sizes over a reasonable range, as wings havea considerable degree of compressibility.

While I have in the foregoing described par- .ticular embodiments of theinvention, it will be understood thatthey are merely for purposes ofillustration to make .clear the principles theredow grooves, thecombination of a mesh, a frame surrounding the mesh, and resilientcushions on two opposite edges of the frame, said cushions havingsufiicient body to flex" and yield in passin over a window groove edgein installation and removal, and when installed to retain the screen inplace by the inherent elastic expansion.

2. In a screen for sliding windows having window grooves, thecombination of a mesh, a frame surrounding the mesh, resilient cushionson two opposite edges of the frame, said cushions having suflicient bodyto flex and yield in passing over a window groove edge ininstallationand'removal, and whenrinstalled to'retain the screen in place by theinherent elastic expansion, and resilient cushions of less body alongthe other two opposite edges of the frame, whereby'the screen mayaccommodate itself to irregularities to form an effective seal. a

3. In a screen for sliding windows having window grooves, thecombinationof a mesh, a frame surrounding the mesh, resilient cushions on twoopposite edges of the frame, said cushions being of greater thicknessthan the frame and having sufficient body to flex and yield in passingover; a window groove f edge in installation and removal, and wheninstalled to retain the screen in place'by the inherent elasticexpansion.

4. In a screen for sliding windows having window grooves, thecombination of a mesh, a frame surrounding the mesh, resilient cushionson two opposite edges of the frame, said cushions being of greaterthickness than theframe and having sufilcient body to flex and yield inpassing 5. In a screen for sliding windows having win- 7 dow grooves,the combination of a mesh, a substantially rigid frame surrounding themesh,

resilient cushions on two opposite edges of the frame, said cushionsbeing of greater thickness than the frame and having sufllcient body toflex and yield in passing over a window groove edge in installation andremoval, and when installed to retain the screen in place by theinherent elastic expansion, the cushions being of a soft and spongycharacter to provide a broad gripping surface with light pressure,whereby the screen may adjust itself to variable conditions.

6. In a screen for sliding windows having window grooves, thecombination of a mesh, a substantially rigid frame surrounding the mesh,resilient cushions on two opposite edgesof the frame, said cushionsbeing of greater thickness than the frame and having sufficient body toflex and yield in passing over a window groove edge in installation'andremoval, and when installed to retain the screen in place by theinherent elastic expansion, the cushions being of a soft and spongycharacter to provide a broad gripping surface with light unit pressure,and resilient cushions of less body along the other two opposite edgesof the frame, whereby the screen may adjust itself to variableconditions.

7. In a unitary screen for sliding windows having window grooves, thecombination of a mesh, a frame surrounding the mesh, and resilientcushions of sponge rubber attached to said 1 frame, said cushions havingsumcient body to flex and yield'in passing over a window groove edge ininstallation and removal, and when installed to retain the screen inplace by the inherent elastic expansion, the cushions being of a softand spongy character to provide a broad

